Presidency

Front 1

Requirements to become the President

Back 1

-U.S. born citizen
-At least 35 years of age
-Has lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years

Front 2

Electoral College

Back 2

The meeting in each state and the District of Columbia, of electors who cast votes to elect the president. In many states, electors are now required by law to vote for the winner of the popular vote.

Front 3

Necessary and Expedient Clause

Back 3

A clause in Article II, Section 3, of the Constitution that authorizes the president to recommend legislation to Congress.

Front 4

Take Care Clause

Back 4

The constitutional clause that grants the president the authority and leeway to determine if laws are being “faithfully executed” and to take action if, in his judgment, they are not.

Front 5

Responsibilities of Presidents

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-Act as administrative head of the nation
-Serve as commander in chief of the military
-Convene Congress
-Veto legislation
-Appoint top officials
-Make treaties
-Grant pardons

Front 6

Executive Privilege

Back 6

The idea that executive branch officials need to be able to advise the president in confidence, and that the president has a right to prevent that advice from becoming public.

Front 7

Inherent Powers (definition)

Back 7

authority claimed by the president that is not clearly specified in the Constitution

Front 8

Inherent Powers (listed)

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-Forces Congress and the courts to acquiesce or restrict the power
-Success in claiming power leaves legacy of expanded authority

Front 9

Executive orders

Back 9

presidential directives that create or modify laws and public policies, without the direct approval of Congress

Front 10

Executive agreements

Back 10

similar to executive order, but used in foreign policy

Front 11

Delegation of powers

Back 11

the process by which Congress gives the executive branch the additional authority needed to address new problems (Congress can enact legislation to reassert authority).

Example: FDR and the New Deal

Front 12

Veto

Back 12

Power to reject legislation passed by Congress. Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate.

Front 13

Pocket veto

Back 13

Veto of a bill without the opportunity for Congress to override the veto. It occurs if the president does not act on a bill within ten days after passage by Congress and Congress adjourns during that time.

Front 14

Line-item veto

Back 14

A form of veto power that allows the chief executive to veto portions of bills rather than entire bills. Over 40 U.S. governors enjoy some form of line-item veto power, but presidents do not have this power.

Front 15

Impeachment

Back 15

A vote in the House of Representatives that initiates a trial against the president in the Senate, alleging the president has committed “high crimes and misdemeanors,” treason, or bribery. If convicted by the Senate, the president is removed from office.

Front 16

How many presidents died in office?

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Eight.

(William Henry Harrison, Taylor, Harding, Roosevelt)

(Assassinated.: Abraham Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, and Kennedy)

Front 17

25th Amendment

Back 17

Adopted 1967 to set procedures for:

-filling vacancies in the office of president and vice president.
-procedures to deal with the disability of a president.

Ex: President may appoint a new VP, subject to the approval of a simple majority of Congress
-Used twice
-Nixon to replace Agnew with Ford
-Ford to select new VP

Front 18

Additional 25th Amendment facts

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-Also contains a section that allows the VP and a majority of the Cabinet (or some other body determined by Congress) to deem a president unable to fulfill his duties
-President can also voluntarily relinquish duties
-1985, Reagan made G.H.W. Bush acting president during Reagan’s eight-hour surgery
-VP Cheney acting president in 2002 while Pres. Bush underwent a colonoscopy

Front 19

The Executive Office of the President

Back 19

the president’s top aides and their staffs; the extended White House executive establishment

-White House office: the president’s personal staff
-Chief of Staff
-National Security Adviser
-Council of Economic Advisers

(Employs almost 1700 people; $270 million annual budget)

Front 20

Major types of presidential advisory styles

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-Competitive (FDR)
-Hierarchical (Eisenhower)
-Collegial (Clinton)
-Most presidents use a combination of styles
-President must ensure that staff members feel comfortable telling him things he may not want to hear

Front 21

The Vice President

Back 21

-Most important duty of the vice president is to take over the presidency in the case of presidential death, disability, impeachment or resignation
-Has traditionally carried out political chores
-Role has changed since the mid-1970s; vice-presidents have played more significant role in recent administrations

Front 22

The Cabinet

Back 22

-a group of presidential advisers; the heads of the executive departments and other key officials
-Modern presidents do not rely on the cabinet to make policy

Front 23

Unified government

Back 23

A situation where the presidency and both houses of Congress are controlled by the same party.

Front 24

Divided government

Back 24

A situation where the presidency is held by one party and at least one House of Congress is controlled by a different party.

Front 25

Presidential Character

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-Difficult to judge character, but it does matter
-Character was at the forefront of national politics during the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal
-Voters claim to care about traits like leadership, integrity, and competence

Front 26

The President’s Power to Persuade

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-Neustadt, “Presidential power is the power to persuade”
-President’s political skills can affect outcomes in Congress
-President’s influence is related to professional reputation and prestige

Front 27

The President and the Public

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-Presidents are in a better position to persuade when their public popularity is high
-President makes efforts to mobilize public support
-Presidents pay close attention to their standing in public opinion polls

Front 28

Approval rating

Back 28

The percentage of the public that approves of the job the president is doing overall.

Front 29

Rally events

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Short-term international events or military actions that boost presidential approval ratings temporarily.

Front 30

Going public

Back 30

Activities of presidents such as highly visible trips, press conferences, interviews, speeches, and public appearances in an attempt to raise public support for a policy agenda.

Front 31

Mandate

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The idea that the public provided clear policy guidance in the results of the prior election.

Front 32

Fluctuations in Presidential Popularity

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-Affected by economic conditions
-Affected by major events
-Typically lose popularity when involved in war with heavy casualties

Front 33

Gridlock

Back 33

a situation in which government is incapable of acting on important issues

Front 34

Foreign Relations (old and new era)

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(OLD)
-For 40 years, the president’s priority as world leader was to contain communism

(NEW)
-National Security
-Fostering a Peaceful International Environment
-Protection of U.S. Economic Interests

Front 35

Guidelines for crisis management

Back 35

-Drawing on a range of advisers and opinions
-Not acting in haste
-Having a well-designed formal review process with thorough analysis and open debate
-Rigorously examining the reasoning underlying all options to ensure that assumptions are valid